This differs from an investment mortgage where they'll count 75% of an appraised long-term rent on the short-term rental as income - even when you go to apply for another mortgage later.  

9 states in the Union that do not allow you to separate spousal debt when applying for a loan.

Another way to look at it is to see how long it would take to pay off the loan if you refinanced and applied your savings to the loan. 

I applied to other banks also.

I was told I could refinance my house (no cash out) and then apply for a HELOC.

Better to just follow what all the other sheep are doing without bothering to apply any rational thought. 

The most helpful book I’ve read so far has been Never Split the difference by Chris Voss, not real estate specific, but I applied it to REI as well as my job, and it was huge on my last offer.

I'm assuming the same applies in other states.

1st lien holder needs to apply for surplus with the clerk of court.

I've read other posts about it which makes me think it only applied to refinancing or cashing out of a property you just purchased.